Junaid Ali

Syed Junaid Ali is a gifted Wicket-Keeper Batsman from Lahore, Pakistan. A hard-hitting Right-hander, Junaid is somewhat of a late bloomer by Pakistani standards and his progression in the First Class game was interrupted by the domestic restructure in 2018/19.

However, as is often the case, the cream rises and he’s become an integral part of the Central Punjab set up, particularly for red-ball cricket. A capable ‘keeper, Junaid was a regular for the Lahore age group teams throughout his youth and represent the Lahore West Zone in the Inter-District tournaments in 2015.

He pushed into the Central Punjab senior side after an outstanding 129 against Northern in the 2nd XI trophy. His 5 appearances in the 2021-22 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy were solid, with 190 runs @ 38.00 to go with 16 dismissals.

Junaid sought his first season in the UK in 2023 and linked with Blythe CC in the ECB North Staffs South Cheshire League. Junaid was outstanding for the club in a tough campaign in which the club were relegated, doing his best with 829 runs @ 48.76, scoring three hundreds in the process. He also rolled the arm over, with 15 wickets @ 32.07 a handy bonus.

He returned to BCC in 2024, scoring 776 runs @ 38 but his runs and an earlier return than planned weren’t enough to keep the club from a further drop.

Junaid will be a good pick up for any UK club seeking a tidy gloveman that can play a major role in the top order next summer who, if needed, can bowl a few overs of spin too. Junaid holds an ECB Core Coach Qualification